The Braun Chief XL body has been the squad’s standard ambulance module since the early 1990s, and the membership has long appreciated the quality, space, and features built into each apparatus. This vehicle is our first ambulance mounted on a gas-powered chassis in nearly 50 years. After extensive research, the committee determined that the improved efficiencies of this type of chassis, along with easier maintenance, made it the right direction for the squad.

The Ford F-450 chassis features a LiquidSpring suspension system, just like Ambulance 57, which helps provide a smoother ride for patients while also offering kneeling capabilities when the rear doors are opened and closed. The committee also chose to completely redesign the emergency lighting package, which had remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years of apparatus. The box mounted LED warning lights feature a blue and red split pattern that allows for additional flash combinations to improve roadway visibility. In addition, a Rumbler siren was added to the truck, using low-frequency sound to better alert drivers as the ambulance approaches. The vehicle also features the same modern electrical system found in our other apparatus, reducing wiring complexity and utilizing three onboard screens to control key vehicle functions.

In a major shift for the squad, the membership voted to approve an entirely new graphic package for the truck, replacing the squad’s historic orange and white design with a new blue and gold color scheme. Additional reflective elements were incorporated, and a large Star of Life on each side of the apparatus gives the vehicle a dramatically different appearance from what the squad has traditionally placed in service.

The truck officially entered service in February 2026 and will help serve the community for many years to come.

This vehicle replaced a 2007 Braun Chief XL that suffered engine failure in the spring of 2025 and was ultimately rendered unusable.